What should I do-one BP missing, the other is wheezing

[wahinef4i]

This afternoon both our BP's were put back in their shared terrarium after my kids were done playing with them. Our newest Bp's is an escape artist so my son put him in one of our other Bp's terrarium two weeks ago. The snakes are usually handled together and seem to get along fine. When I got home this evening, my son informed me that Sprinkles, the youngest of the three, was missing. After a thorough search of the room he was in, we were unable to find him. When he has gotten out in the past we usually find him within a few feet of the terrarium stand hiding under something. That was not the case this time. He is no where to be found. After examining Skull's terrarium where Sprinkles has been for the past two weeks, I noticed a small whole in the netting just large enough for Sprinkles to get out of. However, I also noticed Skull was wheezing. I have not noticed any other signs of RI. If she does have an RI could this have caused her to go into distress and eat Sprinkles? Sprinkles is younger and a lot smaller than Skull. I didn't know they could eat each other apparently my son did. I am hoping our escape artist will show up soon. What I would really like to know is how can I tell if Skull ate Sprinkles or not?

[KittyKatSuperStar]

Personally, after my recent experience with RI, I'd get your snake checked out immediatly. Either that or quarintine it and try raising the temperature etc.
It's such a pain when snakes go missing! I thought I'd lost my Columbian Rainbow Boa for a MONTH once! I searched high and low, emptied my bedroom and searched through his tank about 20 times and even looked in stupid places like the toilet...turns out he was in teh tank all the time, the little rascal!!! He was just so small I kept missing him. If yours has escaped he'll be in the first warm place he could find I've never heard of BP's eating each other, so I honestly wouldn't worry. I know how distressing it can be losing a snake, so I really hope it turns up soon! Good luck!

[sho220]

I would get the "wheezing" one to a vet with herp experience. I would also get them all their own enclosures. Ditch the terrariums and get tubs with latchable lids.

He probably wasn't eaten, you just haven't found him yet.
KittyKat's experience seems pretty common, especially with younger/smaller snakes. There's a good chance he's still in the terrarium. If you managed to overlook a hole in the terrarium top, you probably overlooked the snake hiding under a water bowl, or in a corner.

Good luck...hope you find him soon.

[rabernet]

I'd recommend getting the one to the vet, and setting up a new enclosure for the lost one, once you find it.

You should never house ball pythons together - they don't desire each other's company, and "cuddling" behavior is actually dominance. Dominance causes stress, which can lead to illnesses like RI's.

Additionally, new animals should be quarantined in a different room from your existing animals for 60-90 days, and always handled last.

Good luck with both of them.

[Hotshot]

I'd recommend getting the one to the vet, and setting up a new enclosure for the lost one, once you find it.

You should never house ball pythons together - they don't desire each other's company, and "cuddling" behavior is actually dominance. Dominance causes stress, which can lead to illnesses like RI's.

Additionally, new animals should be quarantined in a different room from your existing animals for 60-90 days, and always handled last.

Good luck with both of them.

Also if you're vet say's you're bp dont have RI, then check you're temps. You should have a hot spot(90 94) and a cool side (80 84 )

[wahinef4i]

so today i changed the bedding in Skulls terrarium in hopes I had missed Sprinkles but no Sprinkles- I don't know how to draw him out from where ever he is. i put a heat lamp close to the floor and a hide near it to see if maybe he'll come out over night. Does any one else have any suggestions?

[mischevious21]

Once I put an entire 10gal aquirium on the floor, under the stairs where theres no traffic, and had the heat lamp and pad on and waited. But it didnt work- so I turned the lamp off and just left the heat pad on and the next day my boyfriend found him!! He was an escape artist, too.. lol.. ALso, under the dryer in a BIG one!! They LOVE it under there!!

[NightLad]

I sincerely hope you find him safe and sound soon.

However, I also want to comment that BPs, while not normally cannibalistic, do have the potential to become so. Not under normal circumstances, but given the right conditions, it can happen. Housing one large and one small BP together, in close quarters, is not the best housing arraignment. As you mentioned, and as your son apparently knew, it can lead to... unpleasant circumstances.

I certainly don't want to worry you, but I did want to make that point clear for whomever else might read this and get the impression that it never happens.

There are other reasons why the majority of people would advise against housing 2 BPs together. Some of those reasons include;

- Shared illness'
- Difficulty getting a fecal sample for the vet (not knowing whose is whose)
- Undue stress, as they are not 'social' critters
- Stress caused by competing for the favored hiding space, heat source, food - if you feed them in the enclosure
- Lack of appetite and unpredictable behavior depending on stress levels
- Dominance behavior that can lead to issues with the dominated snake
- The risk of cannibalism

I'm sure there are more, but those are some off the top of my head.

I would have suggested providing a hide with a heat source on ground level to lure him, but you beat me to it. Great minds eh? Make sure it is in a low-traffic area. You can also try putting a small bowl of water beside the hide. One of my friends lost his BP a while ago, and he found it licking the condensation from the toilet a couple days later.

I know that terrariums are not cheap, but lots of people use rubbermaid tubs for their BPs, and works great too. (Especially if you have trouble maintaining proper humidity levels, in the 50-60% range, with 60-70% during shedding) Just something to consider when you find him.

Good luck! Please keep us informed.

Oh, and as for knowing if your big BP ate him... due to the body shape, it will most likely be tough to tell. If the snake fully digests him, than the feces won't [visually] show any real sign to go by. I would suggest that if you really want to be sure, get an x-ray when/if you go to the vet. Just make sure you do it soon. BPs can digest the majority of their meal within 48 hours.

[starmom]

I sincerely hope you find him safe and sound soon.

However, I also want to comment that BPs, while not normally cannibalistic, do have the potential to become so. Not under normal circumstances, but given the right conditions, it can happen. Housing one large and one small BP together, in close quarters, is not the best housing arraignment. As you mentioned, and as your son apparently knew, it can lead to... unpleasant circumstances.

I certainly don't want to worry you, but I did want to make that point clear for whomever else might read this and get the impression that it never happens.

There are other reasons why the majority of people would advise against housing 2 BPs together. Some of those reasons include;

- Shared illness'
- Difficulty getting a fecal sample for the vet (not knowing whose is whose)
- Undue stress, as they are not 'social' critters
- Stress caused by competing for the favored hiding space, heat source, food - if you feed them in the enclosure
- Lack of appetite and unpredictable behavior depending on stress levels
- Dominance behavior that can lead to issues with the dominated snake
- The risk of cannibalism

I'm sure there are more, but those are some off the top of my head.

I would have suggested providing a hide with a heat source on ground level to lure him, but you beat me to it. Great minds eh? Make sure it is in a low-traffic area. You can also try putting a small bowl of water beside the hide. One of my friends lost his BP a while ago, and he found it licking the condensation from the toilet a couple days later.

I know that terrariums are not cheap, but lots of people use rubbermaid tubs for their BPs, and works great too. (Especially if you have trouble maintaining proper humidity levels, in the 50-60% range, with 60-70% during shedding) Just something to consider when you find him.

Good luck! Please keep us informed.

Oh, and as for knowing if your big BP ate him... due to the body shape, it will most likely be tough to tell. If the snake fully digests him, than the feces won't [visually] show any real sign to go by. I would suggest that if you really want to be sure, get an x-ray when/if you go to the vet. Just make sure you do it soon. BPs can digest the majority of their meal within 48 hours.

Great advice from NightLad; take it.

[wahinef4i]

So he didn't come out last night but I'm going to try again and this time with a bowl of water next to it. I think it's already to late to get the x rays since it's been over 48 hours. Thank you so much for your advice. My son assumed they would be fine since Skull was raised in a terrarium with Tank, another Bp and is often put back in with him when we go out of town for extended periods of time (it makes it easier for my sons friend to take care of them). You think if I put a pinkie out for him? He's gotta be hungry by now. He missed one of his feedings. I'm hoping Sprinkles will come out of hiding soon but I must admit, the longer he's missing the more I think Skull may have eaten our little guy. That was a hard lesson to learn! I feel terrible- I wish I had known. I'll keep you posted.